The Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict: A Fragile Ceasefire and the TTP Challenge
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: International Relations (India and its neighborhood - Afghanistan, Pakistan; Key Mediators - Qatar, Turkiye; Key Terrorist Groups - Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 2 (International Relations): India and its neighborhood- relations; Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests. (Instability in the Af-Pak region directly impacts India).
General Studies Paper 3 (Internal Security): Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security; Security challenges and their management in border areas.
Key Highlights from the News
Days of severe border clashes led to Pakistan and Afghanistan agreeing to an immediate ceasefire.
Discussions were held in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Turkiye.
Pakistan's Main Demand: That the Afghan Taliban government take strong and verifiable action against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which uses Afghan soil to carry out terrorist attacks in Pakistan.
The conflict was escalated by Pakistani air strikes on Afghan soil.
The fact that Pakistan conducted air strikes in Afghanistan again, despite the ceasefire agreements being in place, shows the fragility of this understanding.
The Taliban rejected Pakistan's claim that militant groups operate on Afghan soil, arguing that it is a failure of Pakistan's internal security.
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